Scripture:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
Introduction:
As we draw to near to the close of our study of the Fruit of the Spirit we encounter today a word that is not often used in our society and culture. That word is “Meekness!”
In fact “Late twentieth-century Western culture does not hold meekness to be a virtue.”1 It is seen today in our society as a weakness to be avoided and shunned.
Yet as we will discover in the Word of God today, God places a high value on this virtue.
John Maxwell speaking on gentleness notes that the last three in the list of the Fruit of the Spirit are faithfulness, gentleness and temperance. He says, “I think these three are listed last because they really show maturity when we’re able to conquer the flesh and be filled with the Spirit of God within our lives.” I think he may be on to something for I believe these three require the greatest amount of surrender/submission on our part to work and person of the Holy Spirit within us.
If I were to ask you to define meekness how would you describe it to someone.
I) Meekness Defined
1) Dictionary.com
a) humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.
b) overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.
c) gentle; kind
2) Wordnet
a) the feeling of patient, submissive humbleness
b) a disposition to be patient and long suffering
3) Bible Defines Meekness
a) James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (kjv)
(i) (niv) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom
(ii) This means as the Easton Bible Dictionary points out that to be meek is to have a “Calm temper of mind – not easily provoked
4) So we can see that meekness is linked to humility
a) The bible speaks of Moses as being meek
b) Numbers 12:3 says, " Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.” The Revised Standard Version says he was “very meek.”
c) “It was John Riskin who said, “I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a ... feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them.”
Andrew Murray said, “The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because ... he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honor. Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility.”
M. R. De Haan used to say, “Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have.” Quotes from The Test of a Truly Great Man (Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.)
d) On Meekness = humility – Dr. Samuel Brengle (Salvation Army) said “The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. IT could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, he used it. The moment he throws it aside, it becomes only old iron. O that I may never lose sight of this.”
5) Perhaps this is why meekness is one of the virtues that demonstrates true maturity in Christ, because it requires of us to go against our human pride.
a) We must realize that only the work of God’s grace through his Holy Spirit in us can bring this about. It is not something you or I manufacture in or of ourselves.
b) John Maxwell says, “…It is not human for us to be meek or gentle. The evil, sinful nature that dwells within man in the beginning is a grabbing, greedy, climb the ladder and knock the-other-person-off-the-rung-if-you-can kind of a mindset. So only the grace of God can help you and me to have this wonderful aspect of the fruit of the spirit in our life.” FRUIT THAT IS NEVER OUT OF SEASON –GENTLENESS John Maxwell www.sermoncentral.com
6) The word that is translated Meekness is also at times translated Gentleness
a) So I remind you that the greek definition of that word “literally means “strength under control.” Meekness describes a wild stallion who was tamed and taught to be ridden. That stallion still has all the strength it had when it was wild but now it is strength under control. It is strength bottled up for the master’s use.
(i) Meekness is not weakness as our culture perceives it to be
(a) Meekness is power under control
(b) Meekness is the bridle of anger
(i) Any man or woman can get angry and fly into a fit or rage
(ii) But real power, real strength is as the bible exhorts us “Be angry and sin not…” Eph 4:26
(c) Listen to this passage from James 3:1-13 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.13 ¶ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
(ii) Meekness is not weakness, but strength harnessed for service."
(i) It is bringing every aspect of our being to surrender to the reigning of the Holy Spirit so that our lives will bring glory to the Heavenly Father
(b) The famous atheist Frederick Nietzsche, who coined the phrase “God is dead,” once said, “Assert yourself. Care for nothing except yourself. The only vice is weakness and the only virtue is strength. Be strong. Be a superman. The world is yours if you work hard enough for it” Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Two very different ideas. Although the first words are from an atheist, and the last quote from the teaching of Jesus, it often seems that Christians go by Nietzsche’s philosophy rather than Jesus’ teaching. Many Christians live as though the only virtue is strength. Jesus never talked about strength, but he often spoke of meekness.
II) Meekness Demonstrated
1) Jesus in Matt 11:29 exhorts us “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”
a) Christ An Example of Meekness
(i) Psalm 45:4 “And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness…”
(ii) Isa. 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
(iii) Matt 21:5 “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”
(iv) 1Pet 2:21-23 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously
2) A.W. Tozer in his book “The Pursuit of God” wrote, ““Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is his method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. The rest Christ offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend. It will take some courage at first, but the needed grace will come as we learn that we are sharing in this new and easy yoke with the strong Son of God Himself.”
3) Listen to this song of praise about the incarnation written by Graham Kendrick:
Meekness and majesty, human and deity, in
perfect harmony the one who is God.
Lord of eternity dwells in humanity, kneels in
humility and washes our feet.
Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible, love
indestructible in frailty appears,
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly lifts our
humanity to the heights of his throne.
O what a mystery. Meekness and majesty. Bow
down and worship, for this is your God.
(Graham Kendrick, "Meekness and Majesty" found in Seasoning the Season, Mainstay Church Resources, p. B.146) taken from www.sermoncentral.com
III) Meekness Enjoined
1) As believers we are exhorted in the word of God regarding the virtue of meekness
a) Seek It – Zep 2:3 “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
b) Put It On – Col 3:12-13 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
c) Receive the Word in Meekness – James 1:21 “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
(i) It is our lack of meekness – our arrogance and pride that binds us in our sins and dams the soul
(ii) It is only when we HUMBLE ourselves the the Engrafted Word of God becomes effective in our lives to the “saving of our souls”
d) Answer to all men in meekness – 1Pet 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
(i) George Müller told of a wealthy German whose wife was a devout believer. This man was a heavy drinker, spending late nights in the tavern. She would send the servants to bed, stay up till he returned, receive him kindly, and never scold him or complain. At times she would even have to undress him and put him to bed.
One night in the tavern he said to his cronies, “I bet if we go to my house, my wife will be sitting up, waiting for me. She’ll come to the door, give us a royal welcome, and even make supper for us, if I ask her.”
They were skeptical at first, but decided to go along and see. Sure enough, she came to the door, received them courteously, and willingly agreed to make supper for them without the slightest trace of resentment. After serving them, she went off to her room. As soon as she had left, one of the men began to condemn the husband. “What kind of a man are you to treat such a good woman so miserably?” The accuser got up without finishing his supper and left the house. Another did the same and another till they had all departed without eating the meal.
Within a half hour, the husband became deeply convicted of his wickedness, and especially of his heartless treatment of his wife. He went to his wife’s room, asked her to pray for him, repented of his sins, and surrendered to Christ. From that time on, he became a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus. Won without a word!
George Müller advised: Don’t be discouraged if you have to suffer from unconverted relatives. Perhaps very shortly the Lord may give you the desire of your heart, and answer your prayer for them. But in the meantime, seek to commend the truth, not by reproaching them on account of their behavior toward you, but by manifesting toward them the meekness, gentleness and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ. (George Müller, in a periodical called The Word, edited by Richard Burson, date unknown, pp. 33–35.)
IV) The Reward of Meekness
1) Preserved – Ps 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.
2) Exalted – Ps 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
3) Guided and Taught - Ps 25:9 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
4) Richly Provided for – Ps 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever
5) Receive Increase In Joy – Is 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
6) Receive Grace from God –
a) Pr 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
b) Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
c) 1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Conclusion:
I came across this description that I would like to leave you with this morning. It is simply entitled “THE CHARACTER OF MEEKNESS”
The meek is like the mango tree. All its branches hang with fruit. Passer-by come and assails it with stones and sticks. It responds by dropping the fruit at every blow, at the feet of those who assail it. At the close of the season, it stands scarred and battered, its leaves torn off, its branches broken. Come the next year, it continues to bear fruit - more fruits than the previous year.
That is meekness. It does not try to conserve its self-esteem. It bears fruit, and blesses even those who are not deserving of it.
Author unknown - www.sermoncentral.com
May God help you and I that we may bear fruit for his glory and honor.
